Arsenal: Gabriel, Maitland-Niles Good For Now But New RB Needed

With Jenkinson and Debuchy both nearing an exit. It would be wise of Arsenal to invest in a new reserve right back come the summer. For now, Gabriel and Niles will do though.

One of the most important elements of a successful football team is internal competition. That drive to perform to ensure your place in next week’s eleven is what heightens the quality within a squad. At Arsenal this is no different.

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There is competition between left backs Monreal and Gibbs as well as between wingers Iwobi, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Perez. But the best example is between Alexis and Giroud for the striker’s position. Both have pushed each other to the maximum and this has resulted in excellent performances from both.

One position where the competition is less intense is at right back. Hector Bellerin is a stalwart in the Arsenal team at the minute. Only injuries and rotation for the lesser competitions will keep him out the side. While Bellerin has performed brilliantly over the past 2 seasons. A hungry defender looking to wrestle the starting place from him would only raise Hector’s game.

This season that defender looked to be Carl Jenkinson. Coming back from two successful loan spells at West Ham, Carl had to overcome an injury to get back into the first team frame. The initial signs were promising but his form and confidence has faded in recent times.

Wenger even admitted that Jenkinson looked bereft of confidence. With rumours arising that Carl may rejoin Big Sam at Palace. Jenkinson’s future at right back for Arsenal looks bleak at best.

The other option was Mathieu Debuchy. An Arsenal career riddled with injuries and controversy looked to have regained some momentum when he took over from Carl Jenkinson to deputise in Bellerin’s absence. But only 20 minutes into his return, Debuchy hobbled off injured once more.

He has even made some unsavoury comments about Wenger in the tabloids which will not help his first team cause. The Frenchman looks frozen out at the club and will be sold when and if Arsenal receive a good enough offer for him.

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With Bellerin having a relatively injury hit season. The reserve right back mantel has been shared by Brazilian Gabriel and youngster Maitland-Niles. Gabriel is a centre back and Niles is more of a central midfielder so essentially they are both square pegs in a round hole.

This is not to say they haven’t coped. Both players have performed well at right back in Bellerin’s absence. Gabriel is strong defensively and in the air but is limited going forward. While Niles is technically sound and good enough going forward. He often forgets his defensive responsibilities.

Wenger has never been a fan of the January transfer window. So even if Jenkinson and Debuchy depart, don’t expect a replacement to be brought in midway through the season. This makes relatively good sense as well.

With Bellerin soon to return from injury. He will retake the right back duties and do so with the effervescence we know he has. Between Gabriel and Niles there is enough quality to cover for Hector when and if required.

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Yet once the summer comes alongside, a replacement should be sought out. Both Ricardo Pereira from Nice and Djibril Sidibe from Monaco have been linked to the Gunners in the past. Either player would be a high quality addition to the squad and provide more intense competition to current right back Hector Bellerin.